What is kratom?

Kratom is a tropical tree (Mitragyna speciosa) native to Southeast Asia, with leaves that contain compounds that can have psychotropic (mind-altering) effects.

Kratom is derived from the leaves of trees in Southeast Asia, where it has been used for centuries as a stimulant and pain reliever. In the past five years, kratom has become increasingly popular. Kratom is often used for the short-term effects the substance can have on a person. Users have reported experiences of euphoria within about 10 minutes of ingestion, and the effects have been known to last approximately 90 minutes. Other short-term effects can be increased alertness and increased sociability. How to Use Kratom Traditionally, kratom leaves were often chewed raw to produce the desired effect, but fresh leaves are rarely used in the west and are hard to come. Ground powder is the most popular way of taking kratom but there are other ways such as making tea or using resin or tincture as well.

Kratom is not currently an illegal substance and has been easy to order on the internet. It is sometimes sold as a green powder in packets labeled 'not for human consumption.' It is also sometimes sold as an extract or gum.

Kratom sometimes goes by the following names:

• Biak
• Ketum
• Kakuam
• Ithang
• Thom

How do people use kratom?

Most people take kratom as a pill, capsule, or extract. Some people chew kratom leaves or brew the dried or powdered leaves as a tea. Sometimes the leaves are smoked or eaten in food.

How does kratom affect the brain?

Kratom can cause effects similar to both opioids and stimulants. Two compounds in kratom leaves, mitragynine and 7-α-hydroxymitragynine, interact with opioid receptors in the brain, producing sedation, pleasure, and decreased pain, especially when users consume large amounts of the plant. Mitragynine also interacts with other receptor systems in the brain to produce stimulant effects. When kratom is taken in small amounts, users report increased energy, sociability, and alertness instead of sedation. However, kratom can also cause uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous side effects.

What are the health effects of kratom?

Reported health effects of kratom use include:

• nausea
• itching
• sweating
• dry mouth
• constipation
• increased urination
• loss of appetite
• seizures
• hallucinations

Symptoms of psychosis have been reported in some users.

Can a person overdose on kratom?

There have been multiple reports of deaths in people who had ingested kratom, but most have involved other substances. A 2019 paper analyzing data from the National Poison Data System found that between 2011-2017 there were 11 deaths associated with kratom exposure. Nine of the 11 deaths reported in this study involved kratom plus other drugs and medicines, such as diphenhydramine (an antihistamine), alcohol, caffeine, benzodiazepines, fentanyl, and cocaine. Two deaths were reported following exposure from kratom alone with no other reported substances.* In 2017, the FDA identified at least 44 deaths related to kratom, with at least one case investigated as possible use of pure kratom. The FDA reports note that many of the kratom-associated deaths appeared to have resulted from adulterated products or taking kratom with other potent substances, including illicit drugs, opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, gabapentin, and over-the-counter medications, such as cough syrup. Also, there have been some reports of kratom packaged as dietary supplements or dietary ingredients that were laced with other compounds that caused deaths. People should check with their health care providers about the safety of mixing kratom with other medicines.

Occasional Kratom Uses

*(Post et al, 2019. Clinical Toxicology).

Is kratom addictive?

Like other drugs with opioid-like effects, kratom might cause dependence, which means users will feel physical withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug. Some users have reported becoming addicted to kratom. Withdrawal symptoms include:

• muscle aches
• insomnia
• irritability
• hostility
• aggression
• emotional changes
• runny nose
• jerky movements

How is kratom addiction treated?

There are no specific medical treatments for kratom addiction. Some people seeking treatment have found behavioral therapy to be helpful. Scientists need more research to determine how effective this treatment option is.

Does kratom have value as a medicine?

In recent years, some people have used kratom as an herbal alternative to medical treatment in attempts to control withdrawal symptoms and cravings caused by addiction to opioids or to other addictive substances such as alcohol. There is no scientific evidence that kratom is effective or safe for this purpose; further research is needed.

Points to Remember

• Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, with leaves that can have psychotropic effects.
• Kratom is not currently illegal and has been easy to order on the internet.
• Most people take kratom as a pill or capsule. Some people chew kratom leaves or brew the dried or powdered leaves as a tea. Sometimes the leaves are smoked or eaten in food. Two compounds in kratom leaves, mitragynine and 7-α-hydroxymitragynine, interact with opioid receptors in the brain, producing sedation, pleasure, and decreased pain.
• Mitragynine can also interact with other receptor systems in the brain to produce stimulant effects.
• Reported health effects of kratom use include nausea, sweating, seizures, and psychotic symptoms.
• Commercial forms of kratom are sometimes laced with other compounds that have caused deaths.
• Some users have reported becoming addicted to kratom.
• Behavioral therapies and medications have not specifically been tested for treatment of kratom addiction.

Learn More

For more information about kratom, visit:

This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is appreciated, using the following language: Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Kratom extracts can be one of the most powerful types of kratom, that deliver an amazing experience. But only if you get the best kratom extracts, the best quality ones that have been produced, and imported directly from Southeast Asia.

That’s the problem, because lots of people buy cheap kratom extracts that aren’t the real deal, or they don’t really understand what kratom extracts actually are. They get ripped off, and I don’t want that to happen to you.

So let’s explain what kratom extracts are, how to make kratom extracts, and also, where you can buy real kratom extracts, that are genuinely potent, and a whole new way to experience kratom.

What Are Kratom Extracts?

When it comes to kratom, it can be quite confusing. First, you have different types of kratom, things like Bali, Thai, and Borneo.

These main types of kratom, are then subdivided into green, red and white, depending on the vein color. Plus, to add to the confusion, you then get gold and yellow kratom, which is a variant of white, and occasionally green, kratom.

On top of those two layers of confusion, you get a third layer. That’s the four different strengths of kratom will stop the strength of the kratom is determined by how it’s made:

1. Standard kratom powder is made by grinding the dried leaves from the kratom tree. It’s the drying process which creates the different effects of kratom and is predominantly what create red, green and white kratom.
2. Super kratom is exactly the same as standard kratom powder, except that the leaves that are used to create the powder are the biggest leaves of the tree, which get the most sun, and allegedly contain a higher percentage of alkaloids because of these things.
3. Kratom extracts are the third most powerful type of kratom. The kratom leaves are boiled down to create a resin, that is then ground into a powder. So more leaves are used to create the kratom powder, which should result in a far more alkaloid-rich kratom.
4. The most powerful type of kratom is ultra enhanced kratom. This is where kratom extracts have additional alkaloids added to them. So it’s like kratom extracts on steroids.

How To Make Kratom Extracts

Is Kratom Safe

So kratom extracts are a more concentrated form of kratom. In terms of how to make kratom extracts, the clue is in the multiples that you will see listed. You usually get 10x, 25x and 50x kratom extract is listed on advertising. This does not mean it’s a multiple of 10 times stronger though, or whatever the multiple is.

It means that 10 times the normal leaves have been used to make a single gram of kratom. So with standard kratom powder, around a gram of leaves is ground down to make a gram of powder.

But with kratom extracts 10x strength would mean that 10 g of powder have been boiled down into a concentrated resin that is then ground, to produce a single gram of concentrated kratom powder.

How To Use Kratom Powder

Therefore, theoretically the stronger the multiple, the stronger the kratom extract. That’s why they get progressively more expensive.

Some people learn how to make kratom extracts at home. They just get standard kratom powder, and they boil it to create a resin, that is then dried out, and ground back into a powder. However, it’s not cost-effective, as it works out far more expensive than just buying professionally made kratom extracts.

My recommendation is to not bother trying to learn how to make extracts yourself. Why bother, when there are experts who have harvested and produced the kratom, and turned it into wonderful quality kratom extracts for you?

Should You Buy Cheap Extracts?

Any type of cheap kratom will be poor. It’s like buying a car, you won’t get a Mercedes for a budget price, you have to pay the market rate.

It’s the same with kratom, good quality pure kratom powder will not be the cheapest kratom out there.

Kratom extracts will then be proportionately more expensive, and obviously, the websites you can buy the best kratom powder form will also provide the best quality kratom extracts. Cheap kratom extracts should be avoided at all costs.

It should be a real red flag if you see a website selling kratom extracts that are significantly cheaper than the quality online kratom vendors. It usually means that they have cut the powder with standard kratom to bulk it up, or they have simply labeled up standard kratom as extracts.

Recommended Dosage Based On My Experience

Kratom extracts are very potent if you get the real thing. You would be able to get away with a single gram as a dose as a beginner, and a couple of grams is enough for a lot of experienced users. So treat it with respect.

On top of that, it should be an occasional thing. I would only ever recommend using kratom extracts once a week, as a treat, don’t use it every day, because you will find the dose rapidly creeps up.

Where To Buy The Best Kratom Extracts Online

I would recommend you take a look at the following two online kratom vendors:

Occasional Kratom Used

1.BuyKratom is a brilliant kratom seller. They sell 10x, 25x, and 50x kratom extract. They also sell ultra enhanced kratom, plus they sell variety packs. This is on top of selling all types of loose kratom powder, plus capsules. They really are a total “one-stop shop” for kratom

You can get an extract variety pack that contains 25x and 50x extract, plus Ultra Enhanced Indo. That’s perfect for a cost-effective way of experiencing the power of these concentrated forms of kratom.

2.TheEvergreentree also sells high-quality kratom extracts. Bizarrely, on the website, it’s called kratom tea, which might confuse you. But it’s just the kratom powder, and not really kratom tea.

They do quite a range of extracts, enhanced, and ultra enhanced kratom products, plus some unusual ones like full spectrum kratom. They are well worth experimenting with, as there are some real gems in there, and they are a great place to start experimenting with finding the best kratom extracts.